Stephen Chernin/The Associated PressLeBron James, left, and Chris Paul have been friends for a while.

Rarely in professional sports has there been a bond as tight as the one the three superstars hold.

They play on opposing teams, but they text and/or talk to each other almost daily.

Paul’s wife, Jada, is best friends with James’ girlfriend, Savannah Brinson. When Anthony got married last year, Paul gave a toast that drew more attention than the wedding when he spoke about joining forces with Amare Stoudemire and Anthony with the Knicks.

“When you talk to guys as much as we do, you start to trust them,’’ Paul said. “Any time you can trust somebody in the same profession you are in, it’s a brotherhood.’’

During the season, Paul often has his good buddies eschew the team hotel for his place.

Last November against the Miami Heat, Paul took James, along with Dwyane Wade, to Emeril’s for dinner.

Paul has been a frequent visitor to Akron, Ohio, to help James host his annual camp. But they also use the time together to train and hang out, passing the time by playing cards and video games. Two years ago when James had his charity bike-a-thon, Paul rode through the streets of Akron with him.

When Paul’s 2-year-old son celebrated his first birthday, James was at the party. And Paul was at the hospital for the birth of James’ two sons in Akron.

“There’s definitely a close bond that we have,’’ James said last season. “We have a lot in common. Our friendship has grown over the years. We respect what we do on the court, but it goes beyond that.’’

Whenever one can help the other, they do. When Paul asked James and Anthony to participate in his charity pickup game two weeks ago to raise money for scholarships at Winston-Salem State, they readily accepted the invitation.

When Anthony staged his pickup game for charity in Baltimore two months ago, Paul and James participated.

“Those guys have grown up pretty much together, and they’re very close,’’ Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant said. “I’m cool with them because they’ve been like big brothers to me.’’

On Saturday, Paul was scheduled to participate in a pickup charity game hosted by James, Wade and Chris Bosh at Florida International in Miami.

In July to help him celebrate his bachelor bash two months before his wedding, James and Anthony joined Paul in Las Vegas for two days of partying and hitting the casinos.

Despite barnstorming the nation to play in pickup games during the ongoing lockout, James and Anthony cleared the schedule to attend Paul’s wedding last month in Charlotte, N.C.

Paul appears to have the same drive as James and Anthony to win championships, but they also appear to share the same interests off the court.

They have the same inner circle of friends that includes James’ close adviser, William “Worldwide’’ Wesley, and James’ business manager, Maverick Carter. Paul, James and Anthony also have the same agent, Leon Rose.

Paul said he has known James since high school when they were teammates in an AAU tournament in Cleveland in 2003. Paul also met Anthony through AAU competition.

Paul said his friendship grew with Anthony when he was at Wake Forest because his former teammate, Justin Gray, was Anthony’s roommate when they attended Oak Hill (Va.) Academy.

The trio’s bond was further cemented on the U.S. Olympic team that won gold at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Paul’s father, Charles, said he is impressed with the unique bond his son has with James and Anthony.

“They love the game of basketball, and that’s what connects them,’’ Charles said. “Friendships come and go, especially with men. When we get some good ones, we cherish them. That’s what they have done.’’

Before the Hornets played the Heat last season at the New Orleans Arena, Coach Monty Williams said too much is made of Paul’s friendship with James and Anthony, saying that is just the way they were brought up.

But Williams said when he played in the 1990s, he wasn’t friendly with players against whom he competed.

But it’s a different era now, with opposing players hanging out with each other before and after games, talking and texting throughout the year and trying to join forces as James and Bosh did last season when they signed with the Heat to play alongside Wade.

Paul, who can opt out of his contract after this season, likely will seek advice from James and Anthony, who was traded by Denver to New York before his deal expired.

“Those guys know that at a drop of a dime, I’ll be there for them,’’ Paul said.